Communities are increasingly taking leading roles in acquiring and restoring heritage assets as part of wider high street regeneration schemes.

However, the business case for such projects can often be marginal, which requires communities to explore alternative business models and funding sources to ensure such developments are commercially viable. This workshop will draw on a series of case studies to showcase alternative business models and funding opportunities, with a focus on the growing use of social finance and community shares.

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Venue: This is an online event using the Zoom platform and joining details will be sent to you at various intervals ahead of the event

Tickets: Free for Heritage Trust Network and Locality members , £5 for non-members

Accessibility: Live subtitles will be available on the day, delivered through Otter.ai.

This event will be held on Zoom, an online video conferencing platform. If you would like advice on engaging with this virtual platform please be assured that we will be on hand to help you get the most out of the day.

Please email beverley.gormley@heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk with any questions.

Join HTN or Locality and get free admission to the Open High Streets events.

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This event is part of the Open High Streets: Transforming Places Through Heritage Programme

The Architectural Heritage Fund, Heritage Trust Network and Locality are delighted to present Open High Streets - Transforming Places Through Heritage, a new three-year programme of capacity building workshops to support historic high streets projects.

The much-publicised decline of retail in local High Streets is resulting in a growing number of vacant buildings. Places now need to re-imagine and understand their function and what draws people and communities back into town centres. The England-wide programme is part of the Architectural Heritage Fund’s Transforming Places Through Heritage initiative and sits within the Government’s overall £3.6 billion of high streets funding.

Get involved in the programme to:

✔️ learn from real-life success stories and best practice

✔️receive the advice and support you need to get your project off the ground

✔️discover which heritage, community, and social enterprise funding is available and how to apply

✔️gain insight from experts

✔️connect with like-minded people involved in similar projects

✔️become part of a peer network

Events are FREE for HTN and Locality members.

Membership of the Heritage Trust Network starts at £75 with a free package for start-ups.

Membership of Locality starts at £100.

The focus of the three-year programme is to support, help and develop groups to deliver projects that restore and re-purpose historic buildings with sustainable new uses – to revitalise our high streets and town centres and strengthen our communities. Reusing historic buildings and increasing the diversity and volume of activities in our town centres will also be a significant means of adapting how we live in response to the climate emergency.

This event forms part of the Heritage Trust Network’s project: Unlocking the Power of Communities, part funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thank you to National Lottery players for supporting community and heritage good causes.

Sign up to hear more about the programme at www.heritagetrustnetwork.org.uk/about-us/open-high-streets